Sri Lanka has temporarily sheltered about 200 sailors from an Iranian warship amid tensions off its coast. Sri Lankan authorities said the crew were brought safely to shore after the ship’s crew called for help due to technical problems.
The crew of the IRIS Bushehr was transferred to a military base near the capital Colombo on Thursday, AFP news agency reported. The ship is currently under the care of Sri Lankan authorities.
Earlier on Wednesday, another Iranian warship, the IRIS Dena, sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, reportedly killing at least 84 sailors. The crew of the Bushehr, which was in the same area, requested Sri Lanka for assistance.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in a message on social media that the sailors were granted asylum on a humanitarian basis. “In our opinion, every life is precious,” he said.